The UN special rapporteur for the situation in Palestine on Friday raised a concern about the lack of human rights accountability in Palestine and said Israel eyed further territorial annexation, reports Anadolu Agency.
Michael Lynk’s remarks came in Amman of Jordan following his week-long visit, where he gathered with the Palestinian and Israeli human rights organizations for he was denied entry to Palestine by the Israeli authorities.
Israel is "moving rapidly" towards annexing parts of the Palestinian West Bank and tough rhetoric from Israeli politicians could presage a "dramatic" step in the coming months, United Nations investigator Michael Lynk told Mondoweiss. https://t.co/YakDT24J5n
— Mondoweiss (@Mondoweiss) July 12, 2019
He said, adding Israel’s refusal of entry was contrary to Israel’s obligations as a UN member:
“The United Nations has stated on numerous occasions that the Israeli settlements are illegal, its annexation of East Jerusalem is unlawful, and its violations of the human rights of the Palestinians breach international covenants and treaties. Now is the time for the international community to hold Israel fully accountable for its actions, and to determine whether Israel’s role as the occupying power has crossed the bright red line into illegality.”
Occupied #Palestinian Territory: @UN independent human rights expert Michael Lynk says Israel is bent on further annexation. "Now is the time for the international community to hold #Israel fully accountable for its actions."
Full statement: https://t.co/uvi20iV7Z9 pic.twitter.com/GnTN1Iak5J— UN Geneva (@UNGeneva) July 12, 2019
According to estimates, 640,000 Jewish settlers currently live on 196 different settlements (built with the Israeli government’s approval) and more than 200 settlers “outposts” (built without its approval) throughout the West Bank.
International law regards the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, as “occupied territory” and considers all Jewish settlement-building activity there to be illegal.
(Middle East Monitor, PC, Social Media)
